AEM-Technologies meets milestone for Rostov 4

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

The Volgodonsk branch of AEM-Technologies has completed a "key stage" in the manufacture of a steam generator for unit 4 of the Rostov nuclear power plant, packing the 11,000 stainless steel heat exchange pipes.

The steam generator for Rostov 4 (Image: AEM-Technologies)

The SPA Central Research Institute of Machine Engineering Technology (TsNIITMASH) and heavy equipment manufacturer ZiO-Podolsk are assisting AEM-Technologies with the work. AEM-Technologies is an affiliate of Atomenergomash.

Atomenergomash general director Andrew Nikipelov said that the companies had "totally revived" manufacturing technology of steam generators in Volgodonsk. Their specialists had "made great efforts" to rebuild and improve the "unique" technology through investment in an updated fleet of machines and creation of specialized areas for the manufacture and testing of equipment, he said.

The steam generator has a diameter of four metres and a length of 15 metres. It weighs 340 tonnes. Each of the pipes has a diameter of 16 millimetres and a length between ten to 14 meters. The 11,000 pipes have a total length of 125 kilometres.

The body of the steam generator is a horizontal cylindrical vessel with two elliptical bases, between which are collection points for the inlet and outlet of the coolant.

Four 1000 MWe VVER pressurized water reactors have been planned at the Rostov site (formerly known as Volgodonsk) since the early 1980s. Construction of units 1 and 2 began promptly, but progress faltered. Units 1 and 2 eventually entered commercial operation in March 2001 and October 2010, respectively. Unit 3 was brought to the minimum controlled power level on 7 December and was joined to the grid on 27 December.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News